Sheet cutting and creasing press



Aug. 5, 1947.

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Patented Aug. 5, 1947 on mm SHEET CUTTING AND CREASING PRESS Hans J.Luehrs, Westerly, R. 1., assignor to C. B. Cottrell & Sons Company,Westerly, R. L, a

corporation of Delaware Application August 25, 1944, Serial No. 551,098

36 Claims.

presses of the platen type whereby the strokes of the movable platen andof the sheet handling carriage may be kept at a, minimum, therebymaterially decreasing the inertia forces of the said platen and carriageand increasing the production speed of the press without sacrificing theknown desirable features of the bed cylinder type of press.

My invention also consists in providing means whereby excessivedeflection of the platens under the increased cutting and creasingpressures is prevented, and in providing means for ensuring conformityof any slight deflection of the platens which might be caused by thesaid increased .cutting and creasing pressures.

My invention also consists in providing means for obtaining the maximumdegree of accessibility to the cutter plate and die carried by theplatens.

My invention also includes certain other improvements in theconstruction, arrangement and operation of the several parts of thepress as will hereinafter more fully appear.

One object of my invention is to provide novel means whereby thereciprocating movements of the sheet handling carriage and the movableplaten are so co-related as to permit a short movement of the platen andof the sheet handling carriage to thereby reduce the inertia forces to aminimum.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means whereby thesheet handling carriage may be reciprocated in a straight line with adwell at the beginning of its forward stroke to feed-in a new sheet andto take the preceding cut and creased sheet from the lower platen;another dwell near the end of said stroke at the sheet cutting andcreasing position and to deliver the preceding cut and creased sheet;and a slight additional movement to open the sheet taking grippers onthe carriage and move them beyond the leading end of the newly cut andcreased sheet 2 to permit the free return stroke of the empty carriage.

A further object is to provide novel means for locking and unlocking theupper platen and additional novel means for subsequently swinging theunlocked platen open to a substantially vertical position to gainconvenient access to the cutter plate and die for make-ready, etc., andfor swinging the platen from its open to its closed position.

A further object is to provide novel means for reciprocating the lowerplaten in which an additional mean is provided for carrying the loadduring the sheet cutting and creasing operation.

A further object is to provide novel means for operating the sheetgrippers and suction devices on the carriage and the suction devices onthe lower platen in timed relation.

A further object is to provide means for bringing the lower platen intoand out of contact with the suction devices on the carriage during thedwell of the carriage at its newly fed sheet taking position to transferthe preceding cut and creased sheet to the said carriage to be forwardedthereby to the delivery.

A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 represents a side view of the press with its feeder and delivery;

Fig. 2 represents a plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 represents a. transverse vertical section, on an enlarged scale,taken in the plane of the line IIIIII of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 represents a transverse section on the same scale as Fig. 3,taken in the plane of the line IV-IV of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 represents a vertical transverse section taken in the plane ofthe line V-V of Fig. 3;

Fig, 6 represents a detail vertical transverse section, taken in theplane of the line VI of Fig. 3 with the moving element in anotherposition from that shown in Fig. 5;

. jacent the side frames.

3 showing the cam for operating the sheet grippers on the carriage.

Fig. 12 represents a detail vertical section, taken in the plane of theline XII-XII of Fig. 9, showing the cam for controlling the operation ofthe suction devices on the carriage.

Fig. 13 represents a detail side elevation showing the mechanism foroperating the suction devices on the movable lower platen.

Fig. 14 represents a detail vertical section, taken in the plane of theline XIVXIV of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 represents a detail vertical longitudinal section of the fixedupper platen.

Fig. 16 represents a detail horizontal section, taken in the plane ofthe line XVI-XVI of Fig. 15.

Fig. 17 represents a. detail plan view partly in section of the lowerplaten and its die.

Fig. 18 represents a vertical section, taken in the plane of the lineXVIII-XVIII of Fig. 17;

Fig. 19 represents a detail plan view of the carriage and its sheethandling grippers and suction devices.

Fig. 20 represents a detail vertical section showing the carriage and aportion of the means for reciprocating it, the parts being in positionto take the newly fed sheet.

Fig. 21 represents a detail end view of the same.

Fig. 22 represents a view similar to Fig. 20, with the moving elementsin position to cut and crease the sheets.

Fig. 23 represents a detail plan view partly in section, of the powermeans for swinging the upper platen, when unlocked, to its opened andclosed positions.

Fig. 24 represents a detail vertical section taken in the plane of theline XXIV-XXIV of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 represents a detail vertical section, taken in the plane of theline XXV-XXV of Fig. 23, showing a, portion of the manually operatedmeans for unlocking the upper platen;

Fig. 26 represents a detail plan view of a gripper on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 2'7 represents a longitudinal section taken in the plane of theline XXVlI-XXVII of Fig. 26; and

Fig. 28 represents a detail side elevation of the gripper actuatingmeans.

The press frame comprises, generally, the base I and the side frames 2.The stationary upper platen 3 is shown as provided with a removablecutter plate 4 and the vertically movable lower platen as provided witha removable die 6 for periodic coaction with the cutter plate 4 to cutand crease succeeding sheets. This lower platen 5 is shown as mounted toreciprocate vertically.

The reciprocating sheet handling carriage 1 is shown as slidable in astraight line on the rails of the tracks 8, 8 which tracks are inclinedforwardly and upwardly from the sheet feeder 9 to the sheet deliveryIll. The feeder and. delivery will not be specifically described norclaimed herein as they form no part of the present invention.

The power driven main drive shaft I I of the press is shown as providedwith two pinions I2 adjacent the side frames 2, which pinions mesh withtheir two gears I3 fast on the main cam shaft I4. This main cam shaftcarries the cam I5 for reciprocating the lower platen, which cam islocated about midway .between the side frames. This main cam shaft alsocarries two carriage reciprocating cams I6 for reciprocating the sheethandling carriage 1, which cams are located ad- This main cam shaft I4is shown as driving the auxiliary cam shaft I1 through the bevel gears I8, I9, which auxiliary cam shaft carries the cams for controlling theoperation of the several sheet handling devices.

The lower platen reciprocating cam I5 is shown as having two cam grooves20 of the same shape and also the same angular position with respect tothe cam shaft I 4, in which grooves 20 the smaller cam rollers 2|travel. This cam I5 is also shown as having a renewable short peripheralcam surface 22 of wear resisting material, as hardened steel, which camsurface periodically engages a larger cam roller 23 for carrying theload during the sheet cutting and creasing operation.

These cam rollers 2I and 23 are operably connected to the lower platenby the following means. Two toggle levers are interposed between thelower platen 5 and the base I of the press frame at points spacedinwardly from the sides of the lower platen and between the verticalplanes through the side supports for the fixed upper platen to eliminatethe effect of the upward central deflection of the upper platen, toavoid the downward central deflection of the lower platen and to ensureconformity of any slight deflection of both platens in relation to eachother which might be caused due to the increased cutting and creasingpressures. Each toggle lever comprises pivotally connected upper andlower members 24 and 25, the upper member 24 being also pivoted to thelower platen 5 and the lower member 25 to the said base I. Two links 26project from the pivotal connections of the upper and lower members 24and 25 of their respective toggle levers. These links are also pivotedto a frame 21 which carries the cam rollers 2I and 23. This roller frame21 is shown as a yoke which is vertically reciprocated in the guides 23uprising from the base I by the action of the cam grooves 20 on the camrollers 2 I, which cam grooves impart a gradually increasing upwardmovement and a gradually decreasing downward movement to the lowerplaten during its operative cycle.

A heavy coil spring 29 is located between the lower platen and the frame21 to exert pressure on the cam rollers 2| and 23 to keep them incontact with their cam surfaces and to thereby eliminate lost motion.

The sheet handling carriage 1 is shown as reciprocated, with the properdwells, in an inclined straight line by the following means. Each of thecarriage reciprocating cams I6 has a properly shaped cam groove 30 inwhich a roller 3| travels. This cam roller 3| is carried by a rack bar32 vertically slidable in upper and lower guides 33 and 33 on the sideframe '2, the teeth of which rack bar engage a pinion 34 on a shaft 35which carries a toothed segment 36. Overthrow springs 36* are connectedto cranks 35* (see Figs. 5 and 6) on the shaft 35 for yieldingly holdingthe segments at the limits of their throw and to eliminate backlashthereon. These two segments 36 mesh with rack bars 31 extending alongand secured to the sides of the said carriage 1. The shape of these,carriage reciprocating cams I6 is such that the, carriage is moved at afaster speed on its returnstroke and at a slower speed on its forwardstroke with a dwell at its position to take a newly fedf sheet and thepreceding cut and creased sheet, at dwell at its position for cuttingand creasing thel newly fed sheet and delivering the previously cut andcreased sheet and with a short added move-ii ment at the finish of itsforward stroke to open shee grippers on the carriage and move them be-Search Room yond the leading end of the said newly fed-in sheet after ithas been cut and creased.

The weight of the movable lower platen is shown as partlycounterbalanced to relieve to a considerable degree the strain on theplaten operating means. In the present instance I have shown heavy coilsprings 38 located between the lower platen and the base I upon oppositesides of the platen operating cam l5 and in line with the toggle levers.

The means on the carriage I for handling the newly fed-in sheet and thep c d cut and creased sheet comprises the sheet grippers 39 and thesuction devices 40.

The sheet grippers 39 are disposed across the rear end of the carriage 1in position to be closed to grasp a new sheet from the feeder 9 duringthe dwell at the beginning of the forward stroke of the carriage and torelease the said sheet as it reaches its sheet cutting and creasingposition just before the end of the forward stroke of the carriage.

The suction devices 46 on the carriage 1 are disposed in position totake the preceding cut and creased sheet from the die 6 on the lowerplaten 5 during the dwell at the start of the forward movement of thecarriage and during the forward stroke convey the said preceding cut andcreased sheet forwardly to its delivery position at the same time as thenew sheet is fed-in to its cutting and creasing position.

Suction devices 4| are also provided in the die 6 on the lower platen 5for holding the newly fed-in sheet on the die 6 during the cutting andcreasing operation and also during the return stroke of the carriage 1and until the suction devices 40 on the carriage engage the precedingcut and creased sheet to lift it from the die.

The inner wall of the cam groove is shaped at .28 to move the lowerplaten a short distance upwardly from its lowered position, during thedwell of the carriage at its feeding-in position, to bring the precedingcut and creased sheet on the lower platen into contact with the suctiondevices on the carriage and to then move the platen downwardly a shortdistance from the carriage to permit the free forward movement of thecut and creased sheet.

Ready access to the die and cutter plate may be provided for byproviding manual means for releasably locking the upper platen in itsoperative position and power means for swinging theunlocked platen toits opened and closed positions.

The power means for opening and closing the upper platen is shown asincluding a motor 42 whose shaft 43 is connected by a worm 44 to thelower worm gear 45 on the vertical shaft 46. The upper worm 41 on itsshaft 46 meshes with a toothed segment 48 fixed to one of the journals49 projecting from the ends of an offset portion '59 of the upperplaten, which journals are mounted in suitable bearings 5| in the sideframes 2.

The manual means for releasably locking the upper platen, underpressure, in its closed or 0D- erative position includes a hand wheel 52on the hand shaft 53, which hand shaft is provided with two Worms 54which mesh with two toothed segments 55 carried by the eccentric rockshafts 56. Platen engaging hooks 51 have their hubs 56 mounted for alimited rotary movement on the eccentric portions 59 of the rock shafts56. in the present instance by providing the hooks withcircumferentially elongated slots '69 and the said eccentric portions ofthe rock shafts '56 with pins 6| which project into said slots. Theeccentric mounting of the platen hooks 51 will cause the hooks to exertadditional pressure on the closed upper platen to hold it firmly in saidclosed position. At the end of their limited movement on the shafts 56the platen hooks may be swung out of their platen locking position bythe further rotary movement of the rock shafts in the proper direction.The first portion of the releasing movement of the hooks will remove thepressure of the hooks on the upper platen and thus permit the hooks tobe swung freely to their released position. Springs 51 serve to urge thehooks 51 toward their locking position.

The several mechanisms for operating the sheet grippers 39, the suctiondevices 40 and the suction devices 4| at the proper times will now bedescribed.

The means for operating the-sheet grippers 39 on the carriage 1 at theproper times to feed-in and to release the newly fed sheet comprises thefollowing elements. The auxiliary cam shaft I1 is shown as provided witha box cam 62 in the groove of which there is located a roller 63 carriedby a vertically slidable rod. 64, the upper portion of which rod isguided in a bracket 65. The upper end of the rod 64 is connected by alink 66 to one arm 61 of a rock lever fast on a rock shaft 68, the otherarms 69 of which rock lever are connected by rods 10 to uprising arms 1|journaled on a cross tie shaft 12. The uprising arms 69 are providedwith rollers 13 for controlling the closing of the sheet grippers 39 totake a newly fed sheet, and the arms 11 are provided with rollers 14 forcontrolling the opening of the grippers when the newly fed sheet reachesits cutting and creasing position on the forward stroke of the carriage.

The sheet grippers 39 are opened and closed by the engagement of therollers 13, 14 with the arms 16 which depend from the gripper crossshaft 15 at the proper times in the reciprocation of the carriage. Themovable jaws 11 of the grippers 39 are pivoted at 18 and they areconnected to the arms 19 of the cross shaft 15 by means of adjustablelinks 80, blocks 8|, connecting rods 82, blocks 83 and links 84.Overthrow springs 85 are provided for holding the grippers through theshaft 15 in either their open or closed position.

The means for operating the suction devices 46 on the carriage 1 at theproper times to take a preceding cut and creased sheet from the die andto deliver the sheet comprises the following elements. The suctiondevices 40 on the carriage are operated from the auxiliary cam shaft H,which cam shaft is provided with a box cam 86 in the groove of whichthere is located the roller 81 which is carried by a forked rod 89connected at its upper end to an arm 89 on a cross shaft 99. This crossshaft has another arm 91 connected by a vertical rod 92 to an arm 93pivoted on the press frame, which arm 93 is connected by a link 94 to aslide valve 95 having a series of bridge ports 96 for opening andclosing the suction passages 91 to atmosphere through the ports 98.

The suction passages 91 are flexibly connected by tubes 99 to thesuction devices 40 on the carriage.

The means for operating the suction devices 4| through the die 6 on thelower platen to hold a newly fed sheet thereon during the cutting andcreasing operation and during the return stroke of the carriage and tothen release the sheet, comprises the following lements.

The auxiliary cam shaft I1 is provided with a box cam I in the groove ofwhich there is located a roller IOI carried by a vertically slidable rodI02, the upper end of which rod is connected by a link I03 to an arm I04fast on the cross shaft I05. This cross shaft I05 is provided withdepending arms I06 connected to the slide bars I01 by links I08. Each ofthe slide bars I01 is provided with two slide valves having bridge portsI09 for opening and closing the suction passages IIO to the atmospherethrough the ports III. These suction passages I I0 are flexiblyconnected by tubes II2 leading to the suction devices 4I throughpassages II3, transverse auxiliary manifolds H4 and passages H5. Thesuction devices 40 and 4I are in open communication with a commonmanifold II6 which manifold is connected through a pipe III to a powerdriven vacuum pump, not shown (see Figs. 7 and 8).

Shock absorbing means are provided for the sheet handling carriage atthe ends of its forward and rearward strokes, which means includes thefollowing elements. The sides of the carriage are shown as provided withtwo rollers H8 at its rear end and two rollers H9 at its front end. Thepress side frames 2 are shown as provided with two spring pressedyielding cams I20 for engagement by the carriage rollers I I8 and withtwo spring pressed yielding cams I2I for engagement by the carriagerollers I I9 (see Figs. 9 and 19). Each of these spring pressed cams ispivoted in a bracket I22 on the side frame, said bracket being providedwith stops I23, I24 for engagement with a lug I25 on the cam to limitits swinging movement.

In operation, the sheets to be cut and creased are fed one by one intoproper end and side register by the feeder 9 to be taken by the sheetgrippers 39 on the rear end of the carriage I as the carriage dwells atthe start of its forward stroke. At the same time the lower platen isslightly moved upwardly to bring the preceding cut and creased sheetinto contact with the suction devices 40 on the carriage. The suctiondevices 4I in the die on the lower platen 5 are then operated to releasethe preceding cut and creased sheet from the die and the suction devices40 on the carriage I are operated to take and hold the releasedpreceding cut and creased sheet on the carriage.

As the carriage I is moved forwardly and upwardly in a straight linealong its inclined track 8 the grippers 39 will feed the new sheet intoposition to be cut and creased by the coaction of the lower and upperplatens. On the same forward stroke of the carriage the suction devices40 on the carriage will advance the preceding cut and creased sheet toits delivery point. The carriage is then caused to dwell a sufficienttime to permit the die on the upwardly moving lower platen to cut andcrease the newly fed-insheet. The suction devices 40 on the carriagewill be released to deliver the preceding cut and creased sheet, and thesuction devices M in the die on the lower platen will be operated tohold the newly cut and creased sheet on the die.

The carriage is then moved a short distance forwardly to the end of itsforward stroke for causing the sheet grippers 39 on the carriage to beopened to release the newly cut and creased sheet and moved just beyondthe leading end of the said newly cut and creased sheet. The lowerplaten is then moved downwardly with its newly cut and creased sheet andthe empty carriage is returned downwardly and rearwardly on its 8 track8 to its sheet feeding-in position. The cycle may then be repeated.

It will be understood that the reciprocating movements of the carriageand the lower platen are so timed with respect to each other that thecutting and creasing operation as well as the feeding-in and deliveryoperations may be accomplished with a minimum movement of the lowerplaten.

As the lower platen reaches its cutting and creasing position it will beseen that the cam surface 22 on the platen reciprocating cam I5 engagesthe larger cam roller 23 thus causing the cam I5 through its cam roller23 to carry the load during the cutting and creasing operation.

If it be desired to gain access to the die and cutter plate formake-ready, etc., the upper platen may be released from its closed oroperative position, under pressure, by operating the platen engaginghooks 51 to first release their pressure on the upper platen and to thenbe swung free of the upper platen. The reversible motor 42 may then bestarted in the direction to cause the motor to swing the unlocked upperplaten to its open vertical position. When so desired the upper platenmay be returned to its closed position by the reverse operation of themotor. The hand shaft 53 may then be turned by its hand wheel 52 toswing the hooks to their locking position and to then draw the hooksdownward to exert the required pressure on the upper platen to firmlyseat the same against the considerable upward pressure of the lowerplaten during the cutting and creasing operation.

The parts shown and described but not claimed herein form the subjectmatter of my two divisional applications filed May 16, 1945. and May 17,1945, respectively, their Serial Nos. being 594,101 and 594,333.

It is evident that various changes may be resorted to in theconstruction, form and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do notintend to be limited to the particular embodiment herein shown anddescribed, but what I claim is:

1. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen intocoaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, acarriage, means for reciprocating it in a straight line, devices on saidcarriage operable to take a new sheet from the sheet supply and feed itin to the press, and other devices on the carriage operable at the sametime to takgthe precedin gutand creased sheet presented td'the' carriageby tlflower platen and to convey the sheet to its delivery point andthen release the sheet.

2. In a sheet c tti ng and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen intocoaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, acarriage, means for reciprocating it in a straight line, devices on saidcarriage operable to take a new sheet from the sheet supply and feed itin to the press, and other devices on the carriage operable at the sametime to take the preceding cut and creased sheet presented to thecarriage by the lower platen and to convey the sheet to its deliverypoint and then release the sheet, and means for periodically moving thelower platen a short distance upwardly from its lowered position intoposition to transfer the cut earch Roon and creased sheet to the saidother devices on the carriage when in its new sheet taking position.

3. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen intocoaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, acarriage, means for reciprocating it in a straight line which isinclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to a plane at right anglesto the movement of the lower platen, devices on said carriage operableduring the upward and forward stroke of the carriage to take a new sheetfrom the sheet supply and feed it in to the press, and other devices onthe carriage operable at the same time to take the preceding cut andcreased sheet presented to it by the lower platen and to convey thesheet to its delivery point and then release the sheet.

4. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen upwardlyinto coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets,a carriage, means for reciprocating it in a straight line which isinclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to a plane at right anglesto the movement of the lower platen, devices on said carriage operableduring the upward and forward stroke of the carriage to take a new sheetfrom the sheet supply and feed it in to the press, and other devices onthe carriage operable at the same time to take the preceding cut andcreased sheet presented to it by the lower platen and to convey thesheet to its delivery point and then release the sheet, and

' means for periodically moving the lower platen a short distanceupwardly from its lowered position into position to transfer the cut andcreased sheet to the said other devices on the carriage when in its newsheet taking position.

5. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, meansfor periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with the upperplaten to cut and crease successive sheets, a carriage, means forreciprocating it in a straight line, said carriage having grippers andsuction devices, the grippers being operable to take and feed-in a newsheet and the suction devices being operable at the same time to takethe preceding cut and creased sheet presented to it by the lower platenand to deliver the sheet, said platen moving means being operable tomove the platen slightly to transfer the cut and creased sheet to thecarriage when in its new sheet taking position.

6. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, meansfor periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with the upperplaten to out and crease successive sheets, a carriage, means forreciprocating it in a straight line which is inclined upwardly andforwardly, said carriage having grippers and suction devices, thegrippers being operable to take and feed-in a new sheet and the suctiondevices being ope.-able at the same time to take the preceding cut andcreased sheet presented to them by the lower platen and to deliver thesheet, said platen moving means being operable to move the platenslightly to transfer the cut and creased sheet to the carriage when inits new sheet taking position.

7. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen upwardlyinto coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets,a carriage,

means for reciprocating it in a straight line, devices on said carriageoperable to take a new sheet from the sheet supply and feed it in to thepress and to release the sheet as it reaches its sheet cutting andcreasing position and separate devices on the carriage operable at thesame time to take the preceding cut and creased sheet presented to it bythe lower platen and to convey the sheet to its delivery point and thenrelease the sheet, and devices on the lower platen for holding the newlyfed sheet thereon during the cutting and creasing operation.

8. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen upwardlyinto coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets,a carriage, means for reciprocating it in a straight line, devices onsaid carriage operable to take a new sheet from the sheet supply andfeed it in to the press and to release the sheet as it reache its sheetcutting and creasing position and separate devices on the carriageoperable at the same time to take the preceding cut and creased sheetpresented to it by the lower platen and to convey the sheet to itsdelivery point and then release the sheet, and means on the lower platenfor holding the newly fed sheet thereon during the cutting and creasingoperation and during the return stroke of the carriage and the downwardstroke of the lower platen.

9. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen upwardlyinto coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets,a carriage, means for reciprocating it in a straight line, said carriagehaving grippers and suction devices, the grippers being operable to takea new sheet from the sheet supply and feed it in to the press and torelease the sheet as it reaches its sheet cutting and creasing positionand the suction devices being operable at the same time to take thepreceding cut and creased sheet presented to them by the lower platenand to convey the sheet to its delivery point and then release thesheet, and suction devices on the lower platen for holding the newly fedsheet thereon during the cutting and creasing operation.

10. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means for periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with theupper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, a carriage, means forreciprocating it in a straight line, said carriage having grippers andsuction devices, the grippers being operable to take and feed-in a newsheet and the suction devices being operable at the same time to takethe preceding cut and creased sheet presented to them by the lowerplaten and deliver the sheet, and suction devices on the lower platenfor holding the newly fed sheet thereon during the cutting and creasingoperation and during the return strokes of the carriage and the lowerplaten.

11. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means for periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with theupper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, a carriage, means forreciprocating it in a straight line, said carriage having means operableto take and feed-in a new sheet and at the same time to take thepreceding cut and creased sheet presented to it by the lower platen andto deliver the sheet, said platen and carriage reciprocating meansincluding a rotary shaft and cams therezap/T curt- 11 on operativelyconnected to their respective platen and carriage,

12. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means for periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with theupper platen to out and crease successive sheets, a carriage, means forreciprocating it in a straight line, said carriage having means operableto take and feed-in a new sheet and at the same time to take thepreceding cut and creased sheet presented to it by the lower platen andto deliver the sheet, and means for partly counterbalancing the weightof th lower platen.

13. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means for periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with theupper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, a carriage, means forreciprocating it in a straight line forwardly at a lower speed andrearwardly at a higher speed, said carriage having means operabl duringthe forward stroke of the carriage to take and feed-in a new sheet andat the same tim to take the preceding cut and creased sheet presented toit by the lower platen and to deliver the sheet,

14. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen upwardlyinto coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets,a straight track, a carriage, and means for reciprocating it on saidtrack, devices on said carriage operable to take a new sheet from thesheet supply and feed it in to the press and separate devices operableat the same time to take the preceding cut and creased sheet presentedto it by the lower platen and to convey it to its delivery point andthen release the sheet.

15. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a sheet supply, upper andlower platens, means for periodically moving the lower platen upwardlyinto coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successive sheets,a straight track inclined upwardly and forwardly with respect to a planeat right angles to the movement of the lower platen, a carriage, andmeans for reciprocatins it on devices on said track, said carriageoperable during the forward stroke of the carriage to take a new sheetfrom the sheet supply and feed it in to the press and separate devicesoperable at the same time to take the preceding cut and creased sheetpresented to it by the lower platen and to convey the sheet to itsdelivery point and then release the sheet.

16. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means operatively connected to the lower platen for reciprocating it tocut and crease successive sheets, additional means for carrying the loadduring the cutting and creasing operation, a carriage and means forreciprocating it, said carriage having means operable to take andfeed-in a new sheet and at the same time to take the preceding cut andcreased sheet presented to it by the lower platen and to deliver thesheet.

17. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet anddeliver the preceding out and creased sheet during the forward stroke ofthe carriage and means operatively connected to the lower platen formoving it into and out of coaction with the upper platen to cut andcrease successive sheets and into and out of coaction with the carriageto transfer them thereto, and additional means for carrying the loadduring the cutting and creasing operation.

18. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet andto deliver the preceding cut and creased sheet during the forward strokeof the carriage, a rotary cam having cam surfaces and their rollersoperatively connected to the lower platen for reciprocating it into andout of coaction with the upper platen to cut and crease successivesheets and into and out of coaction with the carriage to transfer thesheets thereto and for carrying the load during the cutting and creasingoperation.

19. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet andto deliver the preceding cut and creased sheet, a cam having a camgroove, a roller traveling therein operatively connected to the lowerplaten for reciprocating it into and out of coaction with the upperplaten and into and out of coaction with the carriage, said cam having acam surface and a roller for engagement thereby for carrying the loadduring the cutting and creasing operation.

20. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet anddeliver the preceding cut and creased sheet, a cam having two camgrooves and an exterior cam surface, rollers traveling in the groovesoperatively connected to the lower platen for reciprocating it into andout of coaction with the upper platen and into and out of coaction withthe carriage and a roller for engagement by the exterior cam surface tocarry the load during the cutting and creasing operation.

21. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet andto deliver the preceding cut and creased sheet, a cam having two camgrooves and an exterior replaceable cam surface, rollers traveling inthe grooves operatively connected to the lower platen for reciprocatingit into and out of coaction with the upper platen and into and out ofcoaction with the carriage and a roller for engagement by the exteriorcam surface to carry the load during the cutting and creasing operation.

22. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet anddeliver the preceding cut and creased sheet and means for reciprocatingthe lower platen into and out of coaction with the upper platen to cutand crease successive sheets and into and out of coaction with thecarriage and for carrying the load during the cutting and creasingoperation, said means including a rotary cam having cam surfaces andtheir rollers and a vertically movable roller frame in which saidroller-s are mounted, said frame beit lg peratively connected to saidlower platen.

23. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a. new sheet anddeliver the preceding cut and creased sheet and means for reciprocatingthe lower platen into and out of coaction with the upper platen to cutand crease successive sheets and into and out of coaction with thecarrlage and for carrying the load during the cutting and creasingoperation, said means including a rotary cam having cam surfaces andtheir rollers and a vertically movouawn K001 able roller frame in whichsaid rollers are mounted, said frame being operatively connected to saidlower platen, and a pressure spring interposed between the lower platenand the roller frame.

24. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet anddeliver the preceding cut and creased sheet and means for reciprocatingthe lower pl aten into and out of coaction with the upper platen to cutand crease successive sheets and into and out of coaction with thecarriage and for carrying the load during the cutting and creasingoperation, said means including a rotary cam having cam surfaces andtheir rollers, a, vertically movable roller frame in which said rollersare mounted, and toggle levers operatively connecting the roller frameand upper platen.

25. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a, new sheet anddeliver the preceding cut and creased sheet and means for reciprocatingthe lower platen into and out of coaction with the upper platen to cutand crease successive sheets and into and out of coaction with thecarriage and for carrying the load during the cutting and creasingoperation, said means including a rotary cam having cam surfaces andtheir rollers, a vertically movable roller frame in which said rollersare mounted, and four toggle levers operatively connecting the rollerframe and lower platen, said toggle levers being connected to the lowerplaten at predetermined points to prevent excessive deflection of theplatens during the cutting and creasing operation and to ensureconformity of any slight deflection of the platens.

26. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens, areciprocating carriage having means operable to feed-in a new sheet anddeliver the preceding cut and creased sheet and means for reciprocatingthe lower platen into and out of coaction with the upper platen to cutand crease successive sheets and into and out of coaction with thecarriage and for carrying the load during the cutting and creasingoperation, said means including a rotary cam having cam surfaces andtheir rollers, a vertically movable roller frame in which said rollersare mounted, and toggle levers operatively connecting the roller frameand lower platen at distances inwardly from its sides to preventexcessive deflection of the platens during the cutting and creasingoperation and to ensure conformity of any slight deflection of theplatens.

27. In a sheet cutting and creasing platen press, a fixed upper platen,a reciprocable lower platen, a sheet handling carriage reciprocablebetween the platens in a straight line and operable to take and feed-ina new sheet and to take and deliver the preceding out and creased sheetduring the forward stroke of the carriage, and means including coactirgrotary cams respectively operatively connected to the carriage and tothe lower platen to reciprocate them in timed relation with a minimumtravel of the lower platen.

28. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a fixed upper platen, areciprocable lower platen, a sheet handling carriage reciprocablebetween the platens in a straight line and operable to take and feed-ina new sheet and to take and deliver the preceding cut and creased sheetduring the forward stroke of the carriage, and means including coactingrotary cams respectively operatively connected to the carriage and tothe lower platen to reciprocate them in timed relation with a minimumtravel of the lower platen, the carriage controlling cams causing thecarriage to dwell to take a new sheet and to take the previously cut andcreased sheet presented to it by the lower platen and to dwell again topermit the new sheet to be cut and creased and the preceding sheet to bedelivered.

29. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, a fixed upper platen, areciprccable lower platen, a sheet handling carriage reciprocablebetween the platens in a straight line and operable to feed-in a newsheet and to deliver the preceding cut and creased sheet during theforward stroke of the carriage, and means including coacting rotary.

cams operatively connected respectively to the carriage and the lowerplaten to reciprocate them in timed relation with a minimum travel ofthe lower platen, the carriage controlling cams causing the carriage todwell to take a newly fed sheet and to take the preceding cut andcreased sheet presented to it by the lower platen and to dwell againjust before the carriage completes its forward stroke to permit thenewly fed sheet to be cut and creased and the preceding sheet to bedelivered.

30. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means for periodically moving one platen into coaction with the otherplaten to cut and crease successive sheets, a carriage operable tofeed-in a new sheet and to take a preceding cut and creased sheet fromthe lower platen and to deliver the preceding cut and creased sheetduring the forward stroke of the carriage, and means for reciprocatingthe carriage at a slow speed on its forward stroke with dwells at thebeginning and near the end of its stroke and at a rapid speed on itsreturn stroke.

31. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means for periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with theupper platen, a sheet supply, a. delivery, a sheet handling carriage,and reciprocatin means therefor, operable to cause the carriage to dwellat one limit of its stroke for taking a new sheet from the sheet supplyand a previously cut and creased sheet presented to it by the lowerplaten, to travel in a straight line to convey the two sheets forwardlyand to again dwell at nearly the other limit of its stroke to depositthe new sheet onto the lower platen and the previously cut and creasedsheet onto the delivery and to complete its stroke and to then returnthe carriage to its original position.

32-. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platens,means. for periodically moving the lower platen into coaction with theupper platen to cut and crease successive sheets, a reciprocatingcarriage and sheet grippers and suction devices on the carriage,respectively operable to feed-in a new sheet and simultaneously delivera preceding cut and creased sheet.

33. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platenscoacting to cut and crease successive sheets, a rotary main cam shaft, acam thereon operatively connected to the lower platen for reciprocatingit, a carriage, cams on the main cam shaft for reciprocating thecarriage in timed relation to the lower platen, sheet handling deviceson the lower platen and carriage, a rotary auxiliary cam shaft and earnsthereon operatively connected to the sheet handling devices foroperating them in timed relation to one another.

34. In a sheet cutting and creasing press, upper and lower platenscoacting to cut and crease

